Kitten Feeding Guide - How Much Should You Feed Your Kitten

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Among the cutest pet cubs, kittens will always occupy a very top place. However, they are very delicate and fragile during their infancy. Therefore, providing them with essential nutrients is crucial. 


If you have just adopted a kitten or your older cat has given birth, you may be puzzled about how to care for these little fur balls, especially how much you need to feed them and how frequently. Additionally, you will have the make a better dietary choice for these kittens.


Depending on the age and weight of your kitten, you will need to feed it every 2 - 6 hours, from 2 ml to 22 ml of kitten food. While newborn kittens require frequent feeding, they will develop a structured routine when they are 4-5 weeks old. After that, they will start eating adult cat foods.


Generally, kittens should be allowed to eat as much as they want throughout the day and have specific nutritional needs. You will also need to be careful as their feeding habit can cause obesity and other health risks. In this blog, I will give you a detailed guide. Let’s start:

Choosing the Right Kind of Food for Kittens

As kittens are very vulnerable after birth, they need intensive care. For the first weeks, kittens will depend on their mother’s nursing. However, if the cub is too weak to compete with other kittens from the litter or loses its mother somehow, you will have to nurse it as a pet parent. 


The first thing you must choose is the right food for your kitten. These foods are specially formulated with high protein levels, appropriate calories, and necessary nutrients to ensure proper growth. 


According to experts, check the label on the food packaging to ensure the food is safe for kittens. If the label contains, “Meets the nutritional requirements of kittens established by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)” or “Complete and balanced nutrition for kittens based on AAFCO feeding trials” the food is safe to give your kitten.

However, the latter label is much better than the first one. It contains additional mineral and vitamin supplements so, you will not have to give them separately. Also, make sure to give it plenty of clean water.


If the cat needs additional nutrition supplements, choose a food containing fish oils and higher protein content. These foods contain omega fatty acids and amino acids that help kittens maintain their energy levels and health.

Kitten Feeding Chart by Age and Weight



Now that you know how to choose the right food for your kitten, it’s time to determine how much you should feed it. As mentioned previously, kittens need different amounts of food in different life stages, and the feeding frequency changes accordingly. Here is a feeding chart to help you determine: 

Feeding Newborn Kittens

A newborn kitten depends highly on their mothers. However, if the mama is not present to nurse the kitten, you will have to feed it. For the first week, you will need to bottle feed the kitten 2-6 ml milk formula every 2-3 hours.


Kitten formula is available to purchase in pet stores and online. Also, if you want to give your kitten homemade formula, here is a kitten formula recipe posted by Kitten Rescue you can follow.


Do not feed a kitten cow’s milk or baby formula as they can be fatal for newborn kitties suggested by experts. A healthy newborn cat may weigh around 50 -150 grams. Track its weight to know if it is fed properly.  

Feeding Kittens 1-2 Week Old

After a week, you continue to follow the same feeding schedule (2-3 hours or 12 times per day) with increased food amount to 6 - 10 ml. Monitor its weight to see if it is getting enough food. 




Adjust the feeding amount depending on the weight of your newborn. During 1-2 weeks, your cat should weigh 150 - 250 grams, no more than that.  

Feeding Kittens 2-3 Week Old

As your cat cub reaches its second week, it will start acting more social and play with its littermates. You can shift the feeding frequency to every 3-4 hours with increased feeding amounts of about 10-13 ml. 


By the end of the third week, your kitten should be about 250 - 350 grams. If they weigh more, reduce the feeding amount to avoid kitten obesity. 

Feeding Kittens 3-4 Weeks Old

Around 3-4 weeks of age, kittens grow a little heavier to about 350-450 grams. During this period, your little kitty will need 6 meals per day delivered 4 - 5 hours apart about 14-18 ml kitten formula.


From 2 weeks, kittens will start growing their baby teeth. You can start giving them small amounts of dry foods to start the weaning process. If your bottle-fed kittens start chewing on the nipples, you will know they are ready to try solid kitten food.

Feeding Kittens 4-5 Weeks Old

Within a month of your kitten’s birth, you can adjust the feeding schedule to every 5-6 hours or four times daily. With its continued growth, its body will need more food and nutrition. This is a good time to start weaning it from milk formula and transition it into wet food.


Give the kitten about 18-22 ml formula three times a day. Add a little liquid kitten food or some gruel on a flat saucer. Introduce it to mixed gruel in the dish and some dry kitten food in a separate dish. 


Prepare gruel by mixing half a wet kitten food with ¼ can of formula.  The formula can be replaced with warm water at five weeks to make the gruel. If the kitten doesn’t start to eat on its own, try putting gruel on its nose and see if it licks it. You can also try using a scoop or a tongue depressor.


Check if the kitten’s weight has reached about 450-550 grams. If it has, your kitty is definitely eating properly. By the end of the fifth week, the kitten should be fed more from the saucer than the nursing bottle.

Feeding Kittens 5-8 Weeks Old



At 5-6 weeks of age, your kitten will be much more active and might start showing its personality. By this time, the kitten should also be ready for solid food. Offer dry baby cat kibble alongside wet gruel at all times.


Access to both types of readily available food would help the kitten’s tummy adjust better to the dietary transition. Always offer fresh water as well. By seven weeks, the kitten should be eating mostly dry cat foods. By the end of the eighth week, it should weigh about 550-850 grams if it’s eating enough.

Feeding Kittens 8 Weeks and Up

At eight weeks, a kitten would be fully weaned. It might try to nurse occasionally if the mother cat is around, but it should already be eating adult food twice a day. You can start following adult cat feeding schedules around this time.


Wet and dry kitten food both have their own advantages, but it’s important that you feed food labelled as specially formulated for kittens in the first year. Keep a separate bowl of water accessible to your kitten. This is crucial for its proper growth. 


You’d know your kitten is eating properly if it’s showing alertness, a clean, glossy coat, and steady weight gain. If you’re planning any dietary changes, consult a vet to rule out any health problems. 


Follow the recommendations in this kitten feeding guide and you’re sure to raise a healthy and happy kitten. Felines can be such picky eaters, but if you get them started on the right track from infancy, feeding them and raising them into adult cats would be a lot easier.  


To detect any health problems, it’s important to monitor the kitten’s weight increase, stool, and energy levels. Your choice of cat food is also crucial, so read the labels and look for expert-approved cat food for your pet. 


If your feline friend is losing weight, contact your vet or advice immediately. Ensure your kitten gets proper nutrition for a better quality of life. Some cat breeds may also develop later than others. So, know about your cat breed’s growth rate for proper care of your beloved pet.

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